David Coats Blog

Tom and I are sat on our Edinburgh bound BA Boeing 737 at Gatwick, looking out at the backsides of the other planes, wondering what the hell was the small hole exuding a noticeable heat shimmer? The best we could come up with was that it was the vent from the ovens which heat the plane food. Our query was soon to be answered!

The flight to Edinburgh was pretty bumpy. The captain announced half way through that air traffic control had informed him there was turbulance in the area so the seatbelt signs went on as a precaution. Within a few minutes we were bouncing all over the place, that gut wrenching feeling deep in my stomach overriding my logical, statistical mind telling me everything would be fine. We landed safely (of course), and went about our days activities with a trip first to delightful Rossyth over the Fourth Bridge (opposite a massive sewage plant!) and on into Edinburgh to the financial heart of Morrison Street and Conference Square.

We arrived back at the airport, tired after the long day, but still with plenty to talk and joke about - especially after a few Guinesses at the airport’s Weatherspoons. We boarded the plane, buckled up and sat back, waiting for the taxi out to the runway. After a short wait, we heard the engines powering down and all fell silent. Alarming. The hostess announced the reason. The heat shimmer producing thing at the back of the aircraft is actually a small engine, which produces air pressure required to start the main engines. It had failed! We had to wait while BA sent an external air machine to get the engines going.

We sat watching as a big white box rolled up and attached itself to the underside of the fuselage, unnatached itself and drove off again.

Still no noise from the Engines.

A second white box rolled up, attached itself, waited, unnattached itself and buggered off once more.

Still no noise from the Engines.

Then came the announcement: ‘None of the external air pressure machines were working either - we’re trying to source a third!’ So 3rd time lucky, a final white box arrived and this time - success! The quest for air was over. The engines whired into life, leaving the aircraft showded in white smoke - and off we went - only an hour late!

No sooner had we reached cruising altitude of 35,000ft, did the shaking start once more. I was actually wishing for it - the feeling is kind of exciting - especially in the dark when all you can see is the light on the end of the wing bobbling up and down furiously! We dropped 5,000ft to find calmer air which seemed to work well. It left me wondering - are we really meant to fly - humans? Its perfectly safe, but it just feels so wrong. As I say, logically, statistically, it is crazy to question flying, and crazy to feel concerned when the plane hits a pocket of air causing it to drop sharply - its not just gonna fall out of the sky. Nevertheless - I like to think about these things and question our actions over my free BA sandwich, single serving orange juice and double Whisky and Coke! As a result of BA’s inability to find air, we arrived back at gone midnight (19hour working day), leaving me uber-tired today. Still better than easyjet though!

Anyone else know that a standard twin engine passenger jet actually has 3 engines? Good pub quiz question that!

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